Once new head coach Sheldon Keefe arrived last Dec. 3, the 2012-2013 Soo Greyhounds began to play a more-inspired brand of hockey.

Centre Tyler Gaudet got here a few days later, playing his first game for the Hounds on Dec. 14.

And while Keefe obviously deserves the majority of the credit for turning things around and leading the Soo to a 23-12-1-3 record the rest of the way, Gaudet also did his part in making this a better hockey team.

The Hamilton, Ont., native brought to the Soo defensive awareness, a strong work ethic, a team-first attitude and the ability to play Keefe's systems flawlessly.

Though not a big scorer, Gaudet's ability to go head-to-head with the opposition's top centres allowed the Hounds to gain preferred matchups for the likes of Nick Cousins and Jared McCann.

Despite producing just three goals and five assists in 34 regular season games, Gaudet showed enough for the Hounds to invite him back as one of three overage players on their 2013-2014 roster.

“I'm really excited about being back,” said Gaudet, who'll be with his teammates tonight for the Hounds exhibition opener.

Missing a number of veterans who're away at NHL camps, the Soo visits the Saginaw Spirit for a 7:05 p.m. start.

Saturday, the same two teams play at Essar Centre, beginning at 7:07 p.m.

As he looked toward the coming campaign, the 20-year-old Gaudet spoke of wanting to become more of a team leader.

While helping the club to a successful season, Gaudet is also focused on trying to play professional hockey a year from now.

“I plan to keep working hard, to be strong defensively and to contribute more offensively,” Gaudet said. “I want to be a better all-round player.”

When Keefe arrived here as the replacement for the fired Mike Stapleton, he didn't forget about Gaudet, a player he'd been coaching with the Central Canada Hockey League's Pembroke Lumber Kings.

Recalling his first few days here last season, Keefe realized his new team could use a player of Gaudet's talents.

“In Pembroke, he was our hardest-working player, on and off of the ice. He really showed the character he had as a person and he was well-respected by his teammates,” Keefe noted. “He had the puck in his possession a lot, even though he didn't score a lot of goals.”

Keefe remembers promising Gaudet only a brief time here to prove himself.

The player showed well and soon, the six-foot-three, 200-pounder established himself as a reliable top-nine forward.

“He got after the puck and when he had it, he kept it in the other team's end,” Keefe said. “He's a complete player without high-end offensive ability.”

This is Gaudet's second go-around in Major A.

After spending the 2010-2011 campaign with the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Hamilton Red Wings, Gaudet earned a spot a year later with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Gatineau Olympiques.

He played in 38 games for Gatineau, finishing with three goals and two assists before being released and joining the Lumber Kings.

“They didn't use him the right way in Gatineau. They wanted him to be physical and to fight,” Keefe said.

But with his dreams of one day playing professional hockey still burning, Gaudet jumped at the chance to try to establish himself with the Greyhounds.

Gaudet remembers Keefe telling him not to try to do anything out of the ordinary here. The coach wanted him to come in and simply play his typical style.

“I was happy with how I played last year,” Gaudet admitted. “I worked my hardest and tried to bring energy, strong defence and character.”

And when pushed, the normally-modest Gaudet admitted he “helped change the mentality of the team.”

“His contributions to the club go far beyond goals and assists,” said general manager Kyle Dubas. “He just comes in and goes about his business. All the credit is Sheldon's because he believed in Tyler.”

Dubas said he also feels Gaudet has the potential to play beyond this season.

He spoke of former Greyhounds centre Andrew Desjardins, once an unheralded 15th-round Ontario Hockey League draft choice.

An NHL free agent, Desjardins worked his way through the minor leagues and has spent the past two seasons with the San Jose Sharks.

He also played part of the 2010-2011 campaign in San Jose.

“All the credit goes to Andrew,” Dubas said. “But Tyler is the same type of player and he's a better skater.”

Meantime, as he looked ahead to tonight, Keefe spoke of how he wanted to see his players begin implementing a lot of the things they've been taught.

The Hounds spent the week of practice putting in the foundation for several of their systems.